Uncoupling device for car-couplings.



T. M. RAMSDELL. 'UNGOUPLING DEVICE FOR OAR COUPLINGS. APPLICATION FILED APR.16,'1908.

91 9,949, Paten ted Apr. 27, 1909.

6, h id 1: a I I 2 1 I I 1/ JO 1 I L9 of a coupler and which is THOMAS M. RAMSDELL, O F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

'UNOOUFLING DEVICE FOR CAR-COUPLIN GS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 27, 1909.

Application filed April 16, 1908. Serial No. 427,411.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it knownthat I, THOMAS M. RAMSDELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Uncoupling Devices for Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to uncoupling devices for car couplers, and one of the objects in view is to provide means operable bya trainman to re ease a coupler without liability of injury, and permit free use of the hand or lantern for signaling during the operation of uncoupling and immediately after an uncoupling operation.

A further object of the invention is to a ply an uncoupling means on and exteriorly readily and positively operable to facilitate startingand release of the controlling locking means of the coupler.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide an'uncoupling means for car cou lers which can be used on all classes of rai way cars and does not come in contact with the buffer used on passenger cars, does not project above the upper surface of thecar platform or side, and lies so close to the to of the coupler as to permit it to be used on gravel cars of low construction where a gravel plow passes from one car to the other.;

A still further object of the invention is to so apply an uncoupling means to a car co u ler as to follow each motion given to t e coupler while the train is in motion without liability of breaking the uncoupling means, thereby overcoming the objection to certain forms of uncoupling devices now in use.

With the foregoing and other objeotsand advantages in view the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure 1- is an end view of a portion of a car and a coupler showing the uncoupling means in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan. Fig. 3 shows the parts of the uncoupling device dissociated.

The numeral 1 designates a coupler head. provided at the outer u per portion of one side with a pair of angulhrly disposed apertured lugs 2 to which is intermediately attached, through the medium of a pivot 3, a. rocking lever 4, shaped to extend over the coupler. head,-

.1n its upper extremity,

top of the coupler head 1 and to depend over slotted. upper end 6 through whlch extends the upper extremity of the lever 4, the terminus of the upper end of the angle lever being hook-shaped as at 8 toengage with the top of the locking pin 6 when the lever 4 is shifted to the position shown in dotted lines inFig. 1, and when so shifted the upper portion of the angle lever 4 extends substantially at right angles with respect to the looking pin. .The upper extremity of the lever engaging the upper slotted end 6 of the pin 5 is normally curved or has a regular arcuate form and acts as a cam edge in relation to the said pin end when moved to gradually raise the pin and avoid jamming of sticking; The lower extremity of the lever 4 is provided With a transversely extending pin 9 for a purpose to be presently referred to.

Arranged below extending upwardly and outwardly at an inclination is a shifting rod 10, the outer end of said rod being under or below the sill 11 and is loosely supported by an eye bolt 12 secured to the lowerface of the said sill 11. The rod 10 extends through the eye of the bolt 12 and has its outer end provided with a handle 18.

enlarged as tudinal slot lower end of at 14 and formed with a lon i- 15 through which extends t e the lever 4, the pin 9 in the'said lower end of the-angle lever 4 being positioned below the said enlarged portion 14 of the rod 10. By such arrangement a in and slot connection is had between the ever 4 and the rod 10. The function of the slot 15 is to allow, when occasion requires, the trainman tosuddenly shift the rod 10 to impart a hammer blow to the lower end of the lever 4 to facilitate the elevation of the locking in 5. p1 What is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a car end and a mounted in the head and having an opening a lever iulcrumed at an intermediate point on the one side of the upper portion of the head and having an upper arcuate extremity slidably engaging t 1e opening in the upper end of the pin and forming a cam edge to release said pin fromlooking position when the lever is actuated and an actuating rod having an inner slotted The inner end of therod 10 is of a locking pin movably llfl extremity loosely attached to the lower extremityof the said lever and projecting outwardly toward the side of the car end.

2. The combination with a car end and a coupler head having a locking pin with an I openin in its upper extremity, of a lever fulcrume on the exterior of the coupler head and having an upper arcuate extremity slidably engagin the opening in the upper end of the pln'an forming a cam edge to release the stud pin from looking position when the nesses'.

THOMAS M. RAMSDELL. Witnesses W. A. CREATE, E. L. HASKER. 

